Ratchet wrench



Dec. 14, 1954 G. E. RELKEN 2,696,748

RATCHET WRENCH Filed Feb. 2, 1954 IN V EN TOR.

' Gerald 1F. RQLKQIZ/ United States 1 Patent RATCHET WRENCH Gerald E. Relken, Miami, Fla.

Application February 2, 1954, Serial No. 407,646

2 Claims. (CI. 81-61) My invention relates to wrenches, and more particularly to a simplified wrench of the ratchet type.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a ratchet type wrench embodying a minimum number of simplified parts which are sturdy and durable, and assembled in a compact manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ratchet wrench having a novel mode of assembly and operation, and embodying no springs, spring pressed balls, pivoted pawls, or the like, the wrench embodying only a single movable part in assembly, directly carried by the operating handle, and adapted to coact with the ratchet teeth in the body portion of the wrench.

A further object is to provide a wrench of the abovementioned character which is positive and reliable in operation, easy to use, and relatively inexpensive to manur'acture.

Still another object is to provide a ratchet type wrench wherein the operated handle is movable circumferentially of the wrench body portion, and the tooth engaging pawl carried by the handle is shiftable into and out of engagement with the ratchet teeth, by a mere rocking action of the handle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a side elevation of a wrench embodying my invention, part broken away,

Figure 2 is a further side elevation of the wrench with a side section removed to show the internal structure of the wrench,

Figure 3 is a further side elevation similar to Figure 2, but showing a different operative position of the wrench handle and associated elements,

Figure 4 is a diagonal section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary radial section taken on line 5--5 of Figure 1, and,

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the wrench, parts broken away, and parts in section.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates generally a wrench head or body portion. The wrench head 10 comprises a central annular ratchet member 11 having a central axial opening 12 extending therethrough, and ribbed or fluted, as shown, for engagement with the heads of bolts, hexagon nuts, and the like. The ratchet member 11 is provided upon its periphery with a series of circumferentially equidistantly spaced tapered or V-shaped ratchet teeth 13, integral therewith. Cylindrical sleeve extensions 14 extend equidis tantly beyond the opposite sides of the ratchet teeth 13, as shown, and have their peripheries in alignment with the bottoms of the ratchet teeth. The ratchet member 11 is of unitary integral construction, as shown.

A pair of annular guide rings 15 of identical construction are arranged upon opposite sides of the teeth 13, and have their bores 16 receiving the cylindrical sleeve extensions 14 therein. The axial widths of the rings 15 are preferably equal to the widths of the sleeve extensions 14, as best shown in Figure 4. The guide rings 15 are provided in their inner opposed sides with annular grooves 17, having their innermost circumferential walls in lateral alignment with the tops or outer edges of the teeth 13. The outer circumferential walls of the grooves 17 are 2,696,748 Patented Dec. 14, 1954 ice ' spaced radially beyond the tops of the teeth 13, as shown.

between the guide rings 15. The handle 18 is provided at its inner end with generally transverse curved lugs or shoes 19, formed integral therewith, and projecting equidistantly laterally beyond the opposite sides of the handle 18. The shoes 19 are elongated circumferentially of the grooves 17, and disposed within the grooves 17 for circumferential and limited radial movement therein. The curvature of the shoes 19 is such, that they are substantially concentric with the inner and outer annular walls of the grooves 17, although the shoes may taper slightly toward their leading ends 20, as shown. The shoes 19 are radially narrower than the grooves 17, so that they may shift radially inwardly and outwardly when rocked about the rounded heel 21 of the handle 18. The leading ends 20 of the shoes 19 project somewhat forwardly of the forward side of the handle 18, as shown, and the widths of the shoes 19 are such that their outer sides are close to the outer sides of the grooves 17 in assembly, Figure 4.

A V-shaped dog or pawl 22 is integrally secured to the leading ends of theshoes 29, and is preferably of the same width as the handle 18, as shown. The pawl 22 is of the same width as the ratchet teeth 13, and adapted to engage between or intermesh with adjacent pairs of the ratchet teeth, in the manner shown in the drawings. The pawl 22 is disposed bodily forwardly of the curved shoes 19 and handle.18, and projects inwardly radially of the shoes 19, as shown. The pawl 22 is movable radially and circumferentially within the annular passage 17, between the rings 15.

In operation, the work such as a nut or bolt head is received by the ribbed opening 12 of the ratchet member 11. The pawl 22 or dog is disengaged from the ratchet teeth 13, by rocking the handle 18 clockwise, Figure 3, about the heel 21. The heel 21, and in fact, the shoes 19, in their entireties ride upon the inner circumferential walls of the annular grooves 17, upon which walls the above described rocking action takes place. With the pawl 22 thus disengaged from the ratchet teeth 13, the handle 18 may be adjusted circumferentially of the head 10, in either direction, to the selected adjusted position, since the shoes 19 are freely slidable within the grooves 17, and the handle and pawl 22 may move within the passage 17. In practice, assuming that a not or the like is being loosened in Figures 2 and 3, the handle 18 will be adjusted circumferentially of the wrench head 10 in the clockwise direction, after each untightening stroke or turn of the handle 18 in the counterclockwise direction.

When the handle 18 is rocked about the heel 21 in the counterclockwise direction, after each circumferential adjustment of the handle, the pawl 22 will reengage between another adjacent pair of ratchet teeth 13, and when the handle 18 is now swung in the counterclockwise direction, Figure 2, the nut or like work will be turned in the counterclockwise direction. The upper sides of the feet 19 react against the outer circumferential walls of the grooves 17, when the handle 18 is swung counterclockwise, Figure 2, with the pawl 22 in engagement with the ratchet teeth. The clockwise rocking action of the handle 18 about its heel 21, Figure 3, is limited by the engagement of the shoes 19 with the outer circumferential walls of the grooves 17.

Wrenching action in the opposite or clockwise direction, for tightening screw threaded work, and the like, is achieved by merely turning the wrench over, and repeating the above described operations.

It is thus seen, that I have provided a freely adjustable ratchet type wrench, without the use of springs, separate pivoted pawls, or other complex moving parts. In my wrench, the only relatively movable parts in the assembled device are the handle 18 and wrench head 10. The structure of the wrench is highly compact and the wrench is very easy to operate. It is neat and attractive in appearance and may be made in any desired standard sizes.

In assembling the four separate elements which make up my wrench, I prefer to heat the guide rings 15 to expand the same slightly, and chill the annular ratchet memher '11. The rings 15 are now slipped onto the sleeve extensions 14, while the shoes 19 of the handle 18- arepositioned to enter the grooves 17. When the parts cool, the rings 15 will be tightly secured to the sleeve extensions 14, and the, handle, 18 will be permanently assembled to the other parts of the wrench. I do not contemplate taking the wrench apart, once it isfassembled during manufacturing, but this could be accomplished if necessary.

It is, to .be understood that the form or the invention, herewith shown and describethis. to be taken as a preterredexarnple of the same, and that various changesin the shape, size and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A wrench comprising, an annularratchet member having an opening to receive a nut or the like and pro,- vided upon its periphery witha set vof teeth, rings carried by the ratchet member and disposed upon opposite sides of the set of teeth, the rings being spaced to form. an outer annular passage exteriorly of the teeth, one ring having an annular groove upon its .inner face, the annular groove having an inner wall arranged near thefree ends l of the teeth and an outer wall spaced from such free ends, a handle extending into the outer annular passage between the rings, an elongated shoe rigidly secured to the handle and extending circumferentially within said groove,

said shoe tapering in one direction, the shoe extending transversely of the handle, the reduced end of the shoe being radially. smaller than the radial dimension of the groove, a pawl rigidly securedto the handle and arranged near the reduced end of the shoe, the pawl being spaced circumferentially from the handle, the handle terminate ing substantially at the shoe.

2. A wrench COIIlPflSlHg', an annular ratchet member having an opening to receive a nut or the like and provided upon its periphery with a set of teeth, rings carried by the ratchet member and disposed upon opposite sides of the set of teeth, the rings being spaced to form an outer annular passage exteriorly of the teeth, said rings being provided with annular grooves upon their inner faces, the annular grooves having their inner walls arranged near the free ends of the teeth and their outer walls Spaced from such free ends, a handle extending into the outer annular passage between the rings, elongated shoes arranged upon oppositesides of the handle and secured thereto and extending circumferentially within said grooves, said shoes tapering in one direction, the shoes extending transversely of the handle, the reduced ends of the shoes beingjradially smaller than the radial dimension of said grooves, a pawl rigidly secured to the handle and arranged near the reduced ends of the shoes, the pawl being spaced circumferentially from the handle, the handle being free from extensions which, surround the annular ratchetvmember.

mamas era a the file of this patiit UNITED STATES PATENTS Number, 7 Name Date 7.

, 630,819 Sayers ..Aug. 8, 1899 1,414,949 Hellem ,May 2, 19.22 1,459,291 Hall June .19, 1923 1,733,012 Henderson ,O,ct. 22, 1929 1,868,840 cNaught et al. July 26, 1932 2,474,402 Napier June 28, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number ,Coun'try Date,

91,638 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1921 

